Students may enter the competition individually, or work in teams of either 2 or 3 students. If an entry is awarded a prize in the competition, the money will be split evenly among team members. A single entry that is created by more than 3 students will be disqualified from prize contention.

Each student documentary MUST include the following five elements:

• A complete exploration of their chosen topic
• Inclusion of C-SPAN programming relating to their documentary’s topic (we recommend using several short clips)
• A balanced presentation of varying viewpoints (we recommend that students interview topic experts, elected officials and people directly impacted by their chosen topic)
• Adherence to the time limit of 5 to 6 minutes. (End credits, if applicable, must begin after the 5-minute mark but are permitted to run longer than the allotted 6-minute time frame)
• Credits at the end of their documentary or a works cited list

Student documentaries MAY include, but are not required to include:

• Additional video pertaining to their topic (B-roll footage)
• Music (preferably copyright free music)
• Graphics
• Diagrams
• Still images
• Narration (Note: If students narrate their documentary, they must write their own script to avoid plagiarism. They may use online or print sources, but they have to put any information used in their own words.)

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE STUDENTS TO MAKE A DOCUMENTARY?

We suggest students plan to dedicate several weeks to creating their documentary. Below is a suggested time frame for those who may wish to go above and beyond. Please keep in mind that several of these steps will overlap as students go through the process of producing their documentary.

• Topic Selection and Initial Research: (1 week) 
• Research and Scheduling Interviews: (2 weeks) 
• Conducting Interviews & Shooting B-Roll: (2 weeks) 
• Write a Script: (1 week) 
• Build a Rough Cut: (1 week)
  – Edit interviews
  – Find & download relevant C-SPAN clips
  – Record Narration
  – Add in music, transitions, text and title slides and credits 
• Share with friends and family and ask for their critique, make final edits and submit to StudentCam: (1 week)

Click here for a printable Student Checklist (Google Doc)

Students should not be paying money to download any C-SPAN footage for use in their StudentCam documentary.

Clips from many of the programs in C-SPAN’s extensive archives are available as FREE downloads in MP4 format on our C-SPAN Downloads page.

We recommend that students look for clips of C-SPAN programming that both support and oppose their own viewpoints. If students scroll down our Downloads page, they will see that we frequently update a large list of ready to download C-SPAN clips on a variety of topics that may be downloaded and used in their documentary.

If they don’t see their topic represented or need assistance downloading clips,  they can simply email us at educate@c-span.org.

Another option perhaps worth exploring is using screen capture software. Many computers have screen capture software included in their pre-packaged software bundles. Other screen capture programs, like Camtasia, offer free trial periods lasting up to 30 days. Students can use the screen capture software in conjunction with C-SPAN’s streaming Video Library to capture C-SPAN video for use in their documentary.

If students have contacted C-SPAN’s Education team and they are still unable to download video, they may wish to stream video from C-SPAN’s Video Library, point their phone or video camera at the computer screen, and record the portion of the program that they would like to use. This may not result in the highest quality video, but it is always an option if students are pressed for time or unable to download the other provided options of C-SPAN video.

Remember to keep the camera steady (consider using a tripod if available), adjust the lighting, and check the recorded volume levels if students choose to capture video this way. This will ensure that students get the best quality video possible using this method.

There is no set time requirement for the C-SPAN clips used in any documentary but the inclusion of C-SPAN programming should be used to support and complement the overall presentation. We highly recommend that students review some of our past winning videos to get an idea of how they too can use short C-SPAN clips to provide additional perspective and enhance their documentary. We recommend that students consider using multiple short clips, but each individual C-SPAN clip used should be no longer than 15-20 seconds. If using multiple C-SPAN clips students may choose to stagger them intermittently throughout their documentary, or have several short clips play consecutively in a row.

C-SPAN produced programming is copyright cleared for use in educational applications like StudentCam. Students may use clips from any of our programs in their documentary.

C-SPAN’s philosophy is to always show multiple perspectives and points of view on any issue that we cover as a television network. Students should treat their documentary in a similar fashion, providing comprehensive overview of their topic and an exploration of the differing points of view, including those that they may personally disagree with. 

If students are comfortable sharing their own point of view about their chosen issue, they are welcome to do so. Students may also consider sharing at some point during their production whether their views have changed or solidified through out the process of researching their documentary.

In order to present varying opinions about their documentary’s issue, students may also want to interview people who have differing points of view on their chosen issue. Students may also choose to explore how their issue may affect different groups of people in different ways.

Another way students can show varying points of view on their topic is through the use of clips from C-SPAN, showing various officials and experts with juxtaposing viewpoints.

There are no requirements for who should be interviewed in their documentary but we strongly encourage students to consider interviewing experts on their chosen topic, as well as local and national political leaders. They may consider interviewing people who have been impacted by federal programs or policy that they are researching, as well as people who work in related fields. They may also choose to interview activists, university professors, historians, and local, state and federal officials who may be involved in related legislation and policy.

The goal is to provide a well-rounded look at their chosen topic so ask them to consider interviewing people who may have alternative points of view.

We suggest contacting potential interview subjects (or their assistants) via phone or email. Students may also consider using social media sites like Twitter or LinkedIn to request a short interview. We recommend that students cast a wide net and be persistent when soliciting interviews. It never hurts to ask and students may be surprised by who is willing to sit down with them for an interview! The interviews will often add credibility to their work and is a clear way to help set their work apart from other documentaries in the competition. 

Students may also want to consider searching their topic in C-SPAN’s video library to see who has appeared on our network before and spoken about their issue. Student could then mention that they have seen that person on C-SPAN before, and that they are working on a documentary for C-SPAN’s StudentCam competition. Students can search our archives here: https://www.c-span.org/search

When contacting potential interview subjects, consider sharing this document with them which provides an overview of the competition:
StudentCam Competition Overview. (Google Doc)

A majority of students simply use their cell phones or tablets to produce their StudentCam documentaries.

Alternatively (or in addition to), if there are video cameras and/or editing equipment available at the school or in the library, consider providing access to your students.

If students are unable to use their phones or school equipment, they can also try contacting public libraries in your area to see if they may have equipment to lend to students.

They can also try their local cable affiliate, local television stations or local public access channel.

With all of that said, many cell phones and digital cameras are able to record video of increasingly high quality. There are also many free video editing apps that are available for smartphones and devices that are worth exploring.

Judging will take place in C-SPAN’s offices in Washington, DC from January through March.

As an amateur video competition, the judges’ strongest critiques center primarily on the content, research, and presentation of each documentary. We are most interested in the students’ original work and the presentation of information within their documentary. Secondary consideration is given to the technical aspects like editing and video quality. While the technical aspects of their video are important, we also realize that this may be the first time many students have created a video, and that their access to technology may be limited. We encourage all students to participate regardless of past filmmaking experience and it is important to note that numerous top prize winning videos each year are made by students with no prior video editing experience.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

• Complete exploration of the chosen topic, and its relation to the contest’s theme
• Quality of expression and student creativity
• Inclusion of topically relevant C-SPAN programming
• Thorough exploration of the varying points related to the chosen topic (including opposing viewpoints, where applicable)

Entries must be uploaded by 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time at the end of the day on January 20, 2025.

Once students have completed their video, they must first upload it to a video host such as YouTube, Google Drive, DropBox or WeVideo.

They then copy and paste the link for us to view and judge their video when they submit the Entry Form, linked on the StudentCam homepage.

**PLEASE NOTE:** The students’ video must be either marked as “Unlisted” or “Public” on YouTube, or marked as “Anyone who has the link can view” in Google Drive. Videos that are marked “Private” on any platform will not be able to be viewed or judged by C-SPAN staff. If students are using a school district Google account, please ensure that those videos can be viewed by accounts that are outside of your school district. 

Students DO NOT need to provide any prior notice of their intention to enter.

The only requirement is that their video and Entry Form is submitted online by the deadline, which is 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time at the end of the day on January 20, 2025.

The 150 winning videos will be announced on the StudentCam website in March 2025. Winning students will be notified via email.

If you have further questions, please contact C-SPAN’s Education team at educate@c-span.org or call our Washington, DC office at 202-626-4858 between 9:00am-4:00pm ET.